Silulumanzi starts repairs on leaking sewer

The plight of a family affected by a leaking sewer for three years is nearing an end, thanks to the recent exposure given by our sister publication, Lowvelder Express. Four weeks ago, the publication reported how a local family, the Shakoanes, had to deal with the unbearable stench of a leaking sewer at their home. According to the homeowner, Jordaan Shakoane, his family have not enjoyed any outdoor activities or opened their windows for almost three years now. Lowvelder Express published the story both in print and online on February 9. READ: Houses built on top of sewer lines blamed for leaks and stench “It was not long after it had been published that Silulumanzi started working to solve the problem at our home,” said Shakoane. “I am excited that life will now return to normal. However, my problem now is not knowing if the stench left after all this work will affect the health of my family or not, going forward,” he said. Richmond Jele, spokesperson of Silulumanzi, said this was a common problem when structures are built without a proper planner. He initially responded to a media inquiry by stating that engineers were exploring options of bypassing those pipes at the house. Jele added that as soon as the engineers were done, the procurement process would ensue and all processes would be followed before the appointment of a contractor to do the work. READ: RDP beneficiaries still waiting to be housed in Tekwane South All of this happened within a space of a month after the newspaper exposure. On Tuesday Jele said only 30 per cent of the work was left to be completed on the premises. “We already did 70 per cent of the work and diverted the sewage to the new pipe. It does not flow into the road any longer. We are just waiting for the soil to dry on stand 64 so that we can replace approximately 30 metres of pipeline that is the last section. The contractor will be back on site soon,” he said.